Reversible automatic lock slider



Oct. 31, 1961 A. M. BROWN REVERSIBLE AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1958 BYf Oct. 31, 1961 A. M. BROWh l 3,006,050

REVERSIBLE AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER Filed Se t. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

,4: EXANDEK M fikaw/v REVERSELE AIJTGMATKC LQCK SHEER Alexander M. Brown, Holly Hill, Fla, assignor to Tfion, End, a corporation of Fennsylvania Filed Sept. 29, 1953, Ser. No. 764,169 15 Claims. (Cl. 24-20514) This invention relates to slide fasteners, and more particularly, to an improved so-called reversible or doublepull automatic lock slider therefor.

In certain applications of slide fasteners, such as reversible jackets and the like, it is desirable that the slider be operable to open and close the fastener from either side thereof. Such a slider is commonly called a reversible slider and in such sliders there is provided a pull member on both the front and rear side thereof so that the locking member may be moved to unlocked position by operation of either pull member thereby permitting the slider to be moved along the fastener.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved reversible automatic lock slider for slide fasteners consisting of a minimum number of parts which can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved reversible automatic lock slider which is simple, compact and rugged in its construction and at the same time, efiicient and effective in its use.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved reversible lock slider having automatic locking means which can be controlled to unlock the slider from either side of the fastener, and which will eifectively lock the slider automatically at any point along the fastener.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one side of the improved automatic lock slider in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing the locking member in its locked position,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the opposite side of the same,

FIG. 4 is an end view thereof,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the slider, similar to FIG. 2, showing the locking member in its unlocked position,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the locking member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved automatic locking slider of my invention consists of a pair of spaced-apart wing portions 2 and 3 having marginal flanges 4- and interconnected at one end by a neck portion 5 so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel 6 therebetween.

There is provided a yoke-like or U-shaped locking member 7 having spaced-apart leg portions 8 and 9 which are connected at one end by a straight transversely extending portion 10. This locking member 7 is preferably inherently resilient and made of relatively thin metallic stock and preferably has a relatively narrow portion 12 at the end of the leg portion 9 so as to permit the locking member to bend at this point for a purpose hereinafter to be described. This locking member is positioned around 3fififi5 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 the neck portion of the slider with the leg portions 8 and 9 being disposed opposite the respective wing portions 2 and 3 and with the straight transversely extending portion it} disposed in a recess 13 in the outer side of the neck portion 5. The bottom wall of this recess 13 is preferably arcuated, as at 14, with the straight portion 10 of the locking member bearing thereagainst so as to be fulcrumed thereon for a purpose to be described.

There is arranged in the leg portion 8 intermediate the length thereof, a loop-like portion 15 and on the extreme outer end of this leg portion, there is arranged a locking prong 16 which extends into and through an aperture 17 in the slider wing '2 adjacent the lower end thereof. The inner wall of this recess 17 is preferably tapered, as at 18, which tapered surface co-operates with the locking prong 16 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

There is arranged on the outer side of this wing 2, a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending lugs or loops 19 between which the loop-like portion 15 of the locking member 7 is movably disposed, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 of the drawings. There is provided a pull member 28 having a trunnion portion 21 which is disposed between the loop-like portion 15 of the locking member and the pair of spaced-apart lugs 19 and the outer side of the wing 2.

In the other leg portion of the locking member 7, there is arranged a loop-like or U-shaped elongated portion 22 so as to provide end walls 23 and 24. There is arranged on the outer side of the wing portion 3, a longitudinally extending lug-like portion 25 which is preferably T-shaped in cross-section, as more clearly shown in FIG. 7, so as to provide a guide rail for the trunnion portions 25 by means of which, a pull member 27 is movably and pivotally attached thereto. The upper end of the lug 25 extends into and through an opening 28 arranged in the end wall 23 of the U-shaped portion 2?. of the leg 9 of the locking member, and the lower end of this lug 25 extends into and through an opening 29 in the end wall 24 of this U-shaped portion so that the U-shaped portion 22, together with the leg 9, is permitted to move longitudinally of the lug 25 for a purpose presently to be described.

It will be understood that when the automatic lock slider of the present invention is positioned on the fastener elements of the slide fastener chain for longitudinal movement therealong to engage and disengage the fastener elements in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the slider can be manipulated from either side of the chain. That is to say, the pull member 20* is disposed on one side of the fastener and the pull member 27 is disposed on the opposite side thereof. The locking memher 7 normally assumes a locked position as more clearly shown in the full lines of FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings with the locking prong 16 extending into the slider channel 6 so as to engage the fastener elements therein. When the pull member 2t) is grasped to manipulate the slider, the trunnion portions 21 thereof bear against the inner side of the loop portion 15 of the locking member thereby moving the locking prong 16 out of the channel 6 and out of engagement with the fastener elements therein, as shown in the broken lines of FIG. 6 of the drawings. The trunnion portions 21 finally engage the underside of the loop-like portions 19 of the slider wing and the slider is moved along the fastener elements as pulling force is continuously exerted to the pull member.

When it is desired to actuate the slider from the opposite side of the fastener to engage and disengage the fastener elements, the pull member 27 is grasped and the trunnion portions 26 thereof engage the end Wall 24 of the loop-like portion 22 of the locking member 7 thereby moving the same longitudinally along the luglike guide rail 25, as shown in FIG. 5. As a result of such movement, the opposite leg portion 8 of the locking member is also moved longitudinally of the slider due to the integral transversely extending interconnecting portion 10. Upon movement of the loop-like portion of the leg 9, the locking member is bent at the relatively narrow portion 12 and the transversely extending portion tends to roll around the arcuated portion 14 of the neck 5 which tends to act as a fulcrum therefor. Upon such longitudinal movement of the leg-like portion 8, the locking prong 16 is moved out of the slider channel 6 up over the tapered surface 18 of the aperture 17 so that the locking member is moved to its unlocked position thereby permitting the slider to move along the fastener elements. In each instance, when the respective pull members 20 and 27 are released, the locking prong 16 will again move into the channel 6 in engagement with the fastener elements therein due to the inherent resilient characteristics of the locking member, and the locking member will again assume the position as shown in FIG. 2.

The construction and function of the automatic lock slider of the present invention should be fully apparent from the foregoing description. In assembling the 1ocking member 7 on the slider body, the leg portions 8 and 9 thereof are spread apart sufiiciently to permit it to slide over the neck portion of the slider body with the T-s-haped guide rail passing through the apertures 28 and 29 in the respective end walls 23 and 24 of the U- shaped portion 22 of the leg 9. The upper end of the guide rail 25 is then deformed, as at 36' as shown in FIG. 2, so as to prevent displacement of the locking member therefrom.

In mounting the locking member on the slider body in such a manner, it will be seen that the loop-like portion 15 of the leg ti will pass betweenthe loop-like portion 19 of the slider wing Z and the locking prong 16 will move into the aperture 17 in the slider wing. The trunnion portions 21 and as of the respective pull members 2d and 27 are then clinched in under the loops as shown. It will be understood that upon movement of the slider in a direction to close the fastener, the looking prong 16 will ratchet along the fastener elements in a conventional manner.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a reversible automatic lock slider consisting of a minimum number of parts, namely, four, two pull members, a locking member and a slider body which can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled.

While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the pur pose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised Within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a slider for slide fasteners having a pair of spaced-apart wing portions connected at one end by a neck portion, a substantially *U-shaped member made of relatively thin yieldable metallic material so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart leg portions interconnected at one end by a transversely extending portion, said member disposed around said neck portion with one leg portion positioned on the outer side of each of said wing portions and with the transversely extending portion abutting the outer side of said neck portion, a loop-like portion arranged in each of said leg portions, a locking prong arranged on the outer end of one of said leg portions, one of said wing portions having an aperture therein into and through which said locking prong extends, a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending loop-like portions arranged on the outer side of said last mentioned wing with the loop portion of said last mentioned leg portion movably disposed in the space therebetween, a pull member having a trunnion portion arranged on one end thereof which is positioned between both the pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending loop-like portions, the loop-like portion of the last mentioned leg portion and respective Wing portion, a longitudinally extending lug-like portion arranged on the outer side of the other of said wing portions, means carried by the other leg portion for movably attaching it to said longitudinally extending lug-like portion whereby this other leg portion is movable longitudinally therealong, another pull member having a trunnion portion arranged on one end thereof which is positioned between the loop-like portion of the other leg portion and the other wing portion, and means arranged on the outer side of the other wing portion adjacent said last mentioned loop-like portion of said leg portion to limit the outward movement of said last mentioned pull member.

2. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer side of the neck portion is arcuated so as to provide a fulcrum for the transversely extending portion of said U-shaped member against which it is disposed.

3. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the aperture in the wing portion is tapered so as to provide a camming surface for the U-shaped prong of said locking member.

4. in a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means arranged on the outer side of the other wing portion adjacent the last mentioned loop-like portion of the leg portion to limit the outward movement of the last mentioned pull member consists of a longitudinally extending lug-like portion substantially T-shaped in cross section so as to provide a guide track for the trunnion portion of said pull member, said last mentioned loop-like portion adapted to straddle said lug-like portion and having an opening in the opposed end walls thereof through which openings said lug-like portion extends so as to permit movement of said leg portion relative to said lug-like portion.

5. in a slider for slide fasteners having a pair of spaced-apart wing portions connected at one end by an arcuated outer surface neck portion so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel therebetween, an inherently resilient substantially U-shaped member made of relatively thin metallic material so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart leg portions interconnected at one end by a relatively straight transversely extending portion, said member disposed around said neck portion with one leg portion positioned on the outer side of each of said wing portions and with the transversely extending portion abutting the outer arcuated surface of said neck portion, a loop-like portion arranged in one of said leg portions intermediate the length thereof, a locking prong arranged on the outer end of said leg portion, one of said wing portions having an aperture therein into and through which said locking prong extends into said slider channel, a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending parallel loop-like portions arranged on the outer side of said wing between which the loop-like portion of said locking member is movably disposed, a pull member having a trunnion portion arranged on one end thereof which is positioned between both the pair of loop-like portions, the loop-like portion of the locking member, and the wing portion, the other leg portion of said locking member having a substantially U-shaped portion formed therein so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart end walls, a longitudinally extending lug-like portion arranged on the outer side of the other of said wings, said U-shaped portion of said last mentioned leg portion disposed over and around said lug-like portion so as to be slidable therealong, each of said end walls of said U-shaped portion having an aperture therein into and through which the respective ends of the lug-like portion extend, and another pull member having a trunnion portion on one end thereof which is disposed between the U-shaped portion and said last mentioned slider wing.

6. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 5, wherein there is provided a relatively narrow portion in the locking member at the juncture of the last mentioned leg portion with the straight transversely extending portion so as to permit the transversely extending portion together with the first mentioned leg portion to bend at this point relative to the last mentioned leg portion.

7. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the aper ture in the wing portion is tapered so as to provide a camming surface for the locking prong of said first mentioned member.

8. In a slider for slide fasteners having a pair of spaced-apart wing portions connected at one end by a neck portion, a substantially U-shaped member made of relatively thin yieldable metallic material so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart leg portions interconnected at one end by a transversely extending portion, said member disposed around said neck portion with one leg portion positioned on the outer side of each of said wing portions and with the transversely extending portion abutting the outer side of said neck portion, a loop-like portion arranged in one of said leg portions, a locking prong arranged on the outer end of one of said leg portions, one of said wing portions having an aperture therein into and through which said locking prong extends, a pull member having a trunnion portion arranged on one end thereof which is positioned between the loop-like portion of the last mentioned leg portion and respective wing portion, a longitudinally extending lug-like portion arranged on the outer side of the other of said wing portions, means carried by the other leg portion for movably attaching it to said longitudinally extending luglike portion whereby this other leg portion is movable longitudinally therealong, and another pull member attached to said longitudinally extending lug-like portion for longitudinal movement therealong which is adapted to cooperate with said last mentioned means for moving the same.

9. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 8, wherein there is provided a relatively narrow portion in the transversely extending portion so as to permit the leg portions to bend and flex at this point relative to one another.

10. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 8, wherein the outer side of the neck portion is arcuated so as to provide a fulcrum for the transversely extending portion of said U-shaped locking member against which it is disposed.

11. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 8, wherein the inner wall of the aperture in the wing portion is tapered so as to provide a camming surface for the locking prong of said first mentioned member.

12. In a slider for slide fasteners having a pair of spaced-apart wing portions connected at one end by a neck portion, a substantially U-shaped member made of relatively thin yieldable metallic material so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart leg portions interconnected at one end by a transversely extending portion, said member disposed around said neck portion with one leg portion positioned on the outer side of each of said wing portions and with the transversely extending portion abutting the outer side of said neck portion, a loop-like portion arranged in one of said leg portions, a locking prong arranged on the outer end of one of said leg portions, one of said wing portions having an aperture therein into and through which said locking prong extends, a pull member having a trunnion portion arranged on one end thereof which is positioned between the loop-like portion of the last mentioned leg portion and respective wing portion, the other leg portion of said locking member having a substantially U-shaped portion formed therein so as to provide a pair of spacedapart end walls, a longitudinally extending lug-like portion arranged on the outer side of the other of said wings, said U-shaped portion of said last mentioned leg portion disposed over and around said lug-like portion so as to be slidable therealong, each of said end Walls of said U-shaped portion having an aperture therein into and through which the respective ends of the lug-like portion extend, and another pull member having a trunnion portion on one end thereof which is disposed between the U-shaped portion and said last mentioned slider wing.

13. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 12, wherein their is provided a relatively narrow portion in the transversely extending portion so as to permit the leg portions to bend and flex at this point relative to one another.

14. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 12, wherein the outer side of the neck portion is arcuated so as to provide a fulcrum for the transversely extending portion of said U-shaped locking member against which it is disposed.

15. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 12, wherein the inner wall of the aperture in the wing portion is tapered so as to provide a camming surface for the locking prong of said first mentioned member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,967,137 Sundback July 17, 1934 2,018,948 Corner Oct. 29, 1935 2,178,949 Brozek Nov. 7, 1939 2,737,699 Erdmann Mar. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 306,980 Switzerland July 16, 1955 800,476 Germany Nov. 9, 19 

